Question

Give the properties of the following compound:

XeF₆

Answer 1

It is a crystalline, colourless substance. It turns yellow at 316 K and melts at 320.7 K to produce a yellow liquid when heated. It can be kept in nickel containers and is stable at room temperature. Among xenon fluorides, it is the most volatile. It reacts with HF as follows.

\[\ce{XeF6 + HF <=> XeF^+_5 + HF^-_2}\]

It is hydrolysed by water to give XeO₃.

\[\ce{XeF6 + 3H2O -> XeO3 + 6HF}\]

It reacts with metal fluorides, MF (M = Na, K, Rb or Cs) to form complex species.

\[\ce{XeF6 + MF -> M+[XeF7]-}\]